The Starke County Election Board considered placing the North Judson-San Pierre tax referendum on the ballot, this week.

N.J.-S.P.’s School Board adopted the resolution to take the property tax levy increase to the public. Under the plan, an increase of 47-cents per $100 of assessed valuation would be seen in year one. The rate would drop to 27-cents per $100 of assessed valuation in subsequent years.

The school corporation believes that the tax increase will offset state funding losses due to declining enrollment, and other factors. The revenue improvements will also help North Judson-San Pierre Schools balance their fiscal year budgets.

In order to be properly placed on the ballot, the referendum was expected to be filed in several places, among them the state of Indiana and the Starke County Clerk’s office.

Now that the proper recording has taken place, Starke County Clerk Vicki Cooley says the referendum was approved to be placed on the ballot during November’s General Election.

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board is preparing for fiscal year 2016.

A special budget work session meeting was held on Wednesday night where school Treasurer Guy Richie presented year-over-year comparisons. The school corporation is anticipating about $8-million in General Fund expenditures for 2016 – a much reduced figure from the $11-million expended during 2012.

Richie says every year, the school corporation should look at its staffing levels.

“Obviously whatever staff we need, it may be sad to say that we have to let go of some people time to time because we’re shrinking,” says Richie. It’s just that now the financial situation is now a drastic thing. It should probably be done every January, February, around that time frame.”

Last year total revenues fell short by about $1-million. Those reductions have been seen due to lower state funding and other factors. That has left the school corporation with few choices but to drain about 75-percent of its cash reserve over the last several years.

School Board members reviewed the proposed appropriations for 2016, last night. What happens to the school corporation’s referendum to raise the property tax levy will determine whether key services and activities are continued.

Superintendent Lynn Johnson says special education is not on the chopping block.

“We have to pay that, I mean that’s not an option,” says Johnson. “But we will have to reduce staff, salary and benefits, a lot.”

Some monies could become available in 2017 in the school corporation’s debt service fund. Transportation funds are considered healthy at this time.

Without increased revenue from a referendum passage, however, positions and activities would indeed be reduced. Revenue generating activities may see priority.

North Judson-San Pierre’s budget is anticipated for adoption by the school board on September 15th.

WoodStarke is less than a month away and as event planners prepare for the family-friendly festival in the park, money is still needed in order to rent a center stage for performers to use. In an effort to raise funds, this weekend individuals can get a sneak peak of a few of the bands that will be playing during WoodStarke.

Performers Seldom Told, South of Sorrow and two other artists are putting on a free show open to the public in Norwayne Field in North Judson on Saturday from noon until 5 pm. Though the performance is free to attend, it is still a fundraiser so donations are requested. You can get a taste of what to expect at WoodStarke since snacks, games and other activities will also be provided during the fund-raising event this weekend.

WoodStarke itself will be held in Wythogan Park on August 29 from 10 am until dusk.With your assistance the free bands will be able to perform on a center stage. For more information contact event organizer Mary Jane Bendt at (574)-772-3860 or through email at mjbendt@embarqmail.com.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

The Starke County Clerk’s office will continue attempts to receive confirmation regarding an issue that may have affected past elections.

During Monday’s Starke County Election Board meeting, recertified ordinances from the Town of North Judson were considered. The Town felt it necessary to bring annexation and ward map issues back from 2001 and 2012 after the ordinances were improperly certified. The error could make the annexation and ward map changes invalid.

Board member Dan Bridegroom says the there are multiple places an ordinance must be certified.

“The auditor’s office, the clerk’s office, the state of Indiana,” says Bridegroom. “Those are the three places. Once it’s done with that, it will come back to [the clerk’s office] with a certification of new people, then the maps change. We can’t change that map.”

Apart from questioning the responsibility of the Election Board in the annexation matter, those present during Monday’s meeting agreed it was necessary to understand how the annexation was affecting the voting public in North Judson.

While it remains clear the ordinances were improperly certified, the Starke County Clerk’s office had, prior to the issue surfacing, made the changes to the Statewide Voter Registration System maps. North Judson residents are thought by the Board to be correctly mapped as a result. That means that so long as the annexation is viewed as valid, the Clerk’s office believes no voting rights were denied, or illegally allowed.

State statute indicates that just because an ordinance certification was not successfully completed, it does not necessarily invalidate the annexation. That issue is what the Town of North Judson and the Starke County Clerk’s office are working to confirm.

Starke County Clerk Vicki Cooley says that somewhere along the line, the map change was likely made from the Clerk’s office.

“It wasn’t maybe recorded or put actually on some of the mappings that it should have, but it was changed in the system,” says Cooley. “There have been no provisional ballots that have been requested, these people did vote.”

As things stand, the Starke County Clerk’s office believes residents in the annexed portions of North Judson from 2001 are still allowed to vote this November.

WKVI Blood Drive Scheduled for Next Week- Roll Up Your Sleeve for Those In Need

Here at the WKVI, we’re doing our part to prevent a summer blood donation shortage by hosting a blood drive on Monday, August 3. You can potentially save three lives with just one blood donation if you come down to 400 W. Culver Rd to participate. Not only will you walk away with a feeling of accomplishment after providing assistance but you will also receive a free American Red Cross baseball cap.

On Monday from 2 until 6 pm the Red Cross will have their blood drive bus in the WKVI parking lot. In order to be eligible to donate you must be feeling well and in good health, weigh at least 110 lbs and you must be at least 17-years-old or 16-years-old with guardian consent. For more information about restrictions, check out the alphabetical list of eligibility requirements provided by ARC.

The goal of this drive is to obtain 19 units of blood. In order to do so, we need to have at least 30 people schedule donations. Walk-ins will be welcome but you can also schedule an appointment for a specific time that works best for you. Follow the provided link to choose your own donation time. You can also call 1-800-733-2767 to make your appointment. Every 2 seconds, someone out there is in need of blood transfusion, you can do your part to assist three of those people with just one donation.

Unwanted, overly personal updates from acquaintances isn’t the only thing you have to worry about as a Facebook user these days. One pesky concern is Malware. Malware is an umbrella term used to refer to a variety of forms of hostile or intrusive software. In attempt to steal personal information from your Facebook account deceitful tagging is utilized.

Here’s how it works; you would receive a notification claiming a friend has tagged you in a video. You may see that several other friends are also tagged. As soon as you click to view the video, it will prompt you to download a flash player before you can proceed. If downloaded, the Malware can take over your Facebook account and carry out the same trick on any of your unsuspecting Facebook friends.

The Better Business Bureau has some tips to follow in order to avoid having personal information compromised. First off, stay away from promotions that say exclusive, shocking or sensational footage. If you suspect a video you’ve been tagged in by a friend is faulty, try contacting them through another means to confirm the legitimacy of the post. Be cautious of shortened links because link shortening may be used as a disguise to malicious links. Don’t trust FB friend’s online habits. There is a chance they may have not actually “liked” anything and may also be a victim of a hacked account.

If your account has been hacked, contact Facebook. The Facebook Help Center page offers remedies to several potential problems.

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

This year’s charitable motorcycle ride sponsored by the North Judson Kersting’s Cycle Center was a success. The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office extended a congratulatory thanks to the Kankakee Valley chapter 1326 of the Harley Owners Group for raising nearly $700 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

In a news release the Sheriff’s Office said it was a privilege to assist the organization with the cause. They also wanted to extend special thanks to Deputy Aaron Heims, Deputy Nick Bowyer and the Medaryville Police Department for their collaborative efforts to provide traffic control during the event. According to the news release, it was their professionalism and courtesy that allowed all participants to have a safe and enjoyable ride for a wonderful cause.

Chapter 1326 of the Harley Owners Group was also grateful for having a chance to participate in this charitable fund-raising opportunity. Road Captain Jerry Hedger presented Sheriff Jeff Richwine with a certificate of appreciation following the event.

If you know someone interested in serving on a local Indiana Farm Service Agency County Committee, now is the time to submit that person’s name as a nominee for the 2015 County Committee Elections. Act fast because you only have until the beginning of August to submit your nomination.

FSA Indiana State Executive Director Julia Wickard has some advice for farmers, or friends of farmers interested in filling one of these positions, “From now through August 3rd you can nominate a candidate for your local FSA county committee and almost anyone participating or cooperating in an FSA program and of legal voting age can be nominated. Download the nomination form from our website or pick one up at your local FSA office.”

Indiana has a big focus on agriculture and by becoming an active member of the FSA you get to be a part of generations of Hoosier farmers who served to assist their communities. Wickard explained the importance of having local members serve on these committees, “FSA county committees are a vital link between the farm community and the US Department of Agriculture. Through the county committee system, farmers have a voice and their opinions and ideas are heard. So make a difference today by nominating a fellow farmer.”

The deadline to submit nominations is August 3rd, all forms must be postmarked or delivered to the county office by that date. Chances are, you know someone perfect for one of these positions. Get your application by following this link and send in your nomination as soon as possible.

A local lawmaker says the recently completed session of the Indiana General Assembly was the most trying and most contentious of his nine-year legislative career. Gov. Mike Pence touted it as the education session. Sen. Jim Arnold, D-LaPorte, agrees this year’s 2.2 percent increase in school funding and next year’s 2.5 percent hike are the largest increases in education funding in history.

“It sounds very good. The downside of that is that the vast majority of our increased money now is going to vouchers and going to charter schools, not going to public school systems,” Arnold recently told the Starke County Council and Commissioners. “The big winners of this are going to be the urban schools. The rural schools such as Knox are going to be the big losers.”

Arnold also notes a significant chunk of the school funding increase goes to vouchers.

“In 2015 we had authorization to fund 28,000 vouchers in the state of Indiana. That goes up to 36,000 in 2016 and it jumps up to 40,000 in 2017.”

Arnold adds he’s never voted for the voucher program.

“I believe in public taxes for public education. If you want to send your childi to a private school, God bless you. I support you on that. I think the family should supply it, not the taxpayers. Public taxes need to go to public education.”

Arnold says the latest state budget is part of an ongoing effort to strip funding from public schools.

Monday, July 27, 2015

Town-wide celebrations don’t just spring up overnight. It takes months, sometimes even years to
bring everything together. This page
from the North Judson Centennial booklet lists the heads of each committee, but
you know that there were many unnamed people behind the scenes who had a hand
in making that celebration a success.

Do you remember any of those people? Slip us an email at lib.norjud@gmail.com
so we can share your memories.

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Businesses, individual and nonprofit organizations whose property has sustained damages as a result of recent flooding and storms have a few more days to report uninsured damage to the state. Doing so is a first step to see if Indiana may qualify for federal disaster assistance funds.

Indiana Department of Homeland Security spokesman John Erickson says the state is “not even close” to that threshold right now. The reporting deadline is Wednesday, July 29th.

Individuals will be asked to provide their name, address, phone number and type of damage the property sustained. Losses can include structural damage to homes and loss of personal property. Officials stress this is NOT an application for a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Contact your county emergency management agency director with any questions. Contact information is available at http://www.in.gov/dhs/2797.htm.

Children without dental insurance can get a free back-to-school checkup at the Indiana University Health LaPorte Dental Center. Appointments are required. During the screening, a dentist will do a visual exam and create a dental map of the child’s teeth and diagnose any problems or decay. Referrals will be given for follow-up care as needed.

Exams are available Aug. 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th from 8 until 10 a.m. and on Thursday, Aug. 6th and 13th from 4 until 6 p.m. Call 219-326-1943 to schedule an appointment.

The program is made possible with funding from the LaPorte Hospital Foundation Dental Fund. The IU Health LaPorte Dental Center provides quality care to children and adults with low incomes and no dental insurance. The clinic also accepts Medicaid patients.

Kids Closet Ministry annually provides school supplies to underprivileged children in Starke County with their Pack-a-Backpack event. Community members get the chance to contribute during their school supply drives. This year while Kids Closet was posted outside the Dollar General stores in North Judson and Knox they received an ample amount of supplies from weekend shoppers. However it was the donations from two other local foundations that helped provide the new backpacks for all the donated supplies.

Kankakee Valley REMC donated 100 backpacks along with enough supplies for 100 children. Kids Closet also received a generous monetary donation of $2,000 from Starke United which helped offset the cost of buying even more backpacks. With the collected supplies and bags Linda Lewandowski, founder and director believes they have enough resources available to help 100 more kids than last year.

She said, “We should have about 350 backpacks. We will also have a table set-up for those that might need school clothes for their children. Last year we had about 250 kids walk through our door, so this year I’m thinking, we’ll have more.”

In order to receive a backpack parents are required to fill out some paperwork, confirming that your child is enrolled at any Starke County School. This offer applies to any kids attending local pre-schools as well as any students going to North Judson-San Pierre, Oregon-Davis or Knox Community schools this fall.

This event is meant to assist students on free or reduced lunch. Since Kids Closet operates on an honesty policy no information is required proving that you are in need of assistance. However, if you can afford school supplies you shouldn’t abuse the organizations’ trust and potentially take a backpack away from a family that cannot afford it. Kids Closet Ministry will be in fellowship hall at the North Judson United Methodist Church on Monday, July 27th and Tuesday, July 28th from 5 o’clock until 7pm.

Friday, July 24, 2015

I've been transcribing historical information from the North Judson Centennial book to share during the town's 150th birthday next year, some of it going on for page after page after page. While I'll be able to break down most of them into smaller articles, there is one I'm saving for February that, so far, runs to 4 Word document pages. And that doesn't include the photos that will go with it! So occasionally I'll have to put a "teaser" here, but don't worry, there will be a link to connect you to the full article on our website. When I have the time I'll also be combing the earliest editions of the local newspaper on microfilm and sharing some of those stories and business ads. Hope you'll all enjoy this as much as I have so far.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

I'm sure that by now everyone in the state knows that 2016 is Indiana's Bicentennial year. But were you aware that 2016 is North Judson's Sesquicentennial*?

Over the next 17 months items from the 1966 North Judson Centennial booklet will find their way into this section. Letters, photos, history excerpts, business ads, names that you haven't thought of in years will bring a cascade of memories of the past. (That is if you lived in North Judson in the 60s.)

The cover for the Centennial booklet was done by Gene Wilkinson.

* Oh, and in case you're wonder what a sesquicentennial is, that's 150 years.

Community Services of Starke County Executive Director Joan Haugh is wrapping up her four-decade tenure with the local nonprofit organization. She started working at the then-Starke County Council on Aging 41 years ago and is preparing to retire at the end of the month. Haugh says the agency has evolved to meet needs that have arisen in the community.

They include meals on wheels, a food pantry and transportation services, to name a few. Haugh says dedicated volunteers make those offerings possible. She also credits the board members who have been part of the organization for its success and progress. One significant milestone was the construction of the current Community Services of Starke County building on East Culver Road.

“My dear husband found out about the Indiana Department of Commerce Community Focus Fund grant, and he applied for those dollars so we could build this facility,” Haugh said. “We moved in here in 1993. Ten years later we ended up getting another grant to build 12 foot to the north because our services were expanding, we needed more room. We needed some privacy for our clients.”

Haugh says helping others has been the most rewarding part of her job.

“I really love working one-on-one with some of the clients. I just try to show them the respect and the dignity they deserve. We don’t know what shoes they’ve walked in, and they don’t know what shoes we’ve walked in.”

Haugh was the guest of honor at a retirement reception yesterday. Even though she’s retiring from her full-time job, she says various volunteer commitments will keep her busy.

The Starke County Clerk says a new candidate has entered the race for North Judson Town Clerk-Treasurer.

Candidates are still lacking to hold a town convention in North Judson, but Alicia Collins has filed the necessary paperwork to run as a Democrat in November. She will be challenging incumbent Republican Donna Henry for the seat.

Jane Ellen Felchuk is seeking office for the North Judson Town Council Ward 1 seat, while Wendy Hoppe is seeking the Ward 2 seat.

Starke County Clerk Vicki Cooley, however, says a few alterations have been made for Town Council seats in Hamlet. According to Cooley, map changes outlining wards has changed which seats candidates are running for.

Democrat Kristine Pitts and Republican Betty Barnett are running for the Hamlet Town Clerk-Treasurer seat.

Democrat Brian Earnest is now alone in his pursuit of the Hamlet Town Council Ward One seat. Tamara Brantley, Frank Lonigro, Jr., and Connie Bailey are running for the Town Council seat from Ward 3; and Dean Goble and Dave Kesvormas, Sr. will face-off in November for the Ward 2 seat.

Candidates have until August 3rd to either declare their candidacy or remove their name for the ballot for areas holding Town Conventions.

At their Monday evening meeting, the North Judson Town
council spoke about excess items in the former fire department building which
is now the community center. Some old items have accumulated in the building
and are no longer being used. The Council decided to include these items in the
town-wide yard sale on August 8th.

The town-wide yard sale is open to the public but in order
to be an official part of the sale you must first have proper authorization.
Town Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry explained that the cost for a required permit
has been reduced this year, “They have to come into our office and purchase a
permit, and the fee is five dollars for the one day, that’s reduced from ten
dollars for the town-wide yard sales.”

Maps will be available displaying the different spots around
town that are hosting their own yard sales. Henry said there is a final day to
sign-up to have your spot put on the map, “The deadline to be on the map is
August 4th. If they want they can give us like their top 5 items that we list
on the map as well.”

Any North Judson resident living within city limits or on
the outskirts is permitted to participate in the town-wide sale. People living
in the outer limits of town can also be put on the map, pending available
space. Residents must provide their name and address in order to be included on
the map. Big ticket items can also be included to get the word out about what
will be at your sale.

Sensitive information on your cell phone may be at risk.
Hackers are accessing personal info by using misleading text messages as well
as spy apps. “Spy apps” are designed to help parents keep track of their
children or reduce the likelihood of infidelity in relationships; however, some
people misuse them to access your email, text messages, call logs and even your
current location. Unfortunately these apps are hard to detect and run invisibly
in the background, fortunately there must be a physical installation. So as
long as you know and trust anyone who has access to your phone, this is not
something you should be worried about.

However, a more common hacking scheme happens with
misleading messages, and anyone with a cell phone and an email account is a target.
In one potential scenario, a hacker would somehow dubiously obtain your mobile
phone number and email address then send a text message claiming to be from
your email service provider indicating there is an issue with your account. The
hacker goes into the login screen of the target’s email account and clicks the
option “Forgot Password” and requests a verification code to be sent via text
message. The hacker then sends a second message requesting the verification
code. If you happen to fall for the trick and send the verification code the
hacker would have full access to any sensitive information in your account and
can change the password, locking you out.

If you suspect your e-mail account has been hacked, first
make sure your security software is installed and set it to update
automatically. Secondly, run a scan to check for malware and then restart your
computer. Last but not least, if you still have access to your account, change
your password immediately. If you continue to have issues or if you receive a
suspicious message, contact your service provider to confirm the legitimacy of
the claims.

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Patti and her husband, Bill, moved to Bass Lake with their
two children on Memorial weekend of 1981 from Michigan. Loving the lake, Patti wanted to meet people
and do whatever she could to become part of the community and joined several
organizations and clubs in the Bass Lake area.
She started by joining the Bass Lake Property Owners Association and
served on the board in various positions for 14 years. While on the board she helped with the Bass
Lake Festival for 4 years. She joined
the Bass Lake Lioness Club where she did the Bass Lake Directory as a
scholarship fundraiser for the Lioness Club.

In 1997 she was elected to serve on the Bass Lake
Conservancy Board and continued that service for 17 ½ years, 16 years on the
Board of Directors and 1 ½ years working in the office. She developed and did the grants to receive
funds from the State of Indiana for the weeds in Bass Lake. She has been back on the Festival committee for
the last 3 years.

When her children were in the California Township School she
served at the PTO President for 2 years.
Bill joined the Bass Lake Fire Department and she was involved with all
the fundraisers they had to purchase equipment.
Patti has been a director for the Tourism Board for the last 3 ½ years
and has been appointed by the Starke County Commissioners to the CVC
Board.

Last but not least, she was the neighborhood mom to
all. Patti and Bill’s 2 children, Hollie
Grantz and Jon Bush, still live in the area and have given them 5 grandchildren
and 1 great-grandchild. Patty’s enjoying
watching the next generation enjoy the lake as much as she did when they first
moved here.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

A Beginner’s Genealogy Workshop will be held from 6:15 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., August 17th, at the Porter County Public Library System. This workshop is for people just starting out tracing their family history as well as for those more experienced in genealogy who want to get better acquainted with the resources available at PCPLS and with what the department has to offer.

Larry Clark, head of the Genealogy Department, will conduct
this free workshop. Registration is
required.

The workshop will be held at the South Haven Public Library,
406 W. 700 North, Valparaiso, Indiana
46385.

If you are currently between primary care physicians or need
to receive medical attention for any reason there is a local facility available
to you. Lisa Jones with IU Health shared the details with WKVI, “We have urgent
care in the LifePlex building and we do feel like it’s a secret that not many
know about. It’s not very far from the folks here in Knox and this area, it
takes about 20 minutes.”

The facility treats individuals of all ages for injuries and
illnesses. They offer X-Rays, CT scans and ultra sound services. They can
assist with strains, sprains, lacerations and abrasions. Jones said the staff
does their best to provide care for anything patients feel requires immediate
attention and can provide results within the same day.

Jones explained that the facility also offers physicals for
students and department of transportation employees, “This time of year we’re
doing a lot of sports physicals as kids are getting ready to go back to school
and those are actually just a cash service for $25 and they get their complete
IHSAA Physical done and then we also offer D.O.T physicals.”

The IU Health Urgent Care facility in LifePlex is open
Monday through Friday from 9 am until 7 pm Eastern. On the weekends they are
open from 9 am until 3 pm Eastern. They are open every day with the exception
of major holidays when their office is closed. Walk-ins are welcome, no
appointments are required. For more information visit iuhealth.org or call
(574)-941-1000.

Contact and Location

We make every attempt to accommodate the needs of all our patients by offering extended office hours and commitment to short wait times.

Administrative and non-instructional North Judson-San Pierre
School Corporation employees will not be getting pay raises this year after
action last week by the school board. That move is in response to budgetary
constraints. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says there will be no increase to any
salaries. Every year the board is required to take action on a resolution about
Teacher’s Credit Union. The board was in agreement about continuing to use the
company for payroll deductions.

Their meeting was immediately followed by a work session
where board members continued discussions about composing a political action
committee for the referendum discussed during previous board meetings.
Superintendent Johnson said the board tossed around a few names for potential
community members who would be beneficial to the committee. She relayed that
the school has also received calls from volunteers wishing to assist with the
referendum process and be a part of the PAC.